The highlight is the popular Rallarweg - Norway's most famous cycle route. An 85-kilometre cycle route through magnificent mountain scenery from Haugastol to Flåm.
The landscape experience takes centre stage on the adventure road between Oslo and Bergen. The cycle tour leads from lovely low mountain valleys to rugged high plateaus and deep fjords. But the roads need to be mastered. The cycle path surface is often bumpy and washed out.
Some sections of the route lead steeply uphill and downhill, but can be bypassed by train if necessary. Caution: The weather in the highlands can quickly change from sunshine to strong winds and even snowstorms, even in summer. It is therefore essential to bring warm clothing, a hard hat, gloves and rain protection!
Tour tip
From Hallingdal to the Sognefjord via Nesbyen, Gol, Golsfjellet, Hemsedal, Fanitullvegen, Vats, Bergsjø, Tvist, Hovet, Hol, Geilo, Finse, Myrdal to Flåm. An exciting, very varied route totalling around 260 km. We recommend a trekking bike with a gear ratio suitable for mountain biking and good tyre tread.
Best time to travel
The short cycling season lasts from the beginning of July to the beginning of September. In July, snow can still be expected on the paths in the highlands.
Arrival
By car ferry, e.g. from Kiel to Oslo or from Hirtshals in northern Denmark to Kristiansand or Larvik with Color Line.
By plane from several German airports to Oslo, e.g. with Lufthansa, SAS and Norwegian, possibly with a return flight from Bergen.
Many trains in Norway also carry bicycles, including the Bergen Railway from Oslo to Bergen. Ideal if you only want to cycle part of the adventure route.
Bike shops/rental
Help is usually available in the larger towns. However, as long stretches lead through more remote regions, it is advisable to take a repair kit with you.
Hotel tips
Mountain hotel tip: Bergsjøstølen (simple, rustic, detached wooden hotel with 30 rooms by a clear mountain lake at almost 1100 metres), N-3570 Ål, tel. 3208 4618, mailto:post@bergsjostolen.no
Design hotel in the mountains: Skarsnuten Hotel, Postboks 74, N-3561 Hemsedal, Tel. 0047/32067010, Fax 0047/32067011
Holidays on a mountain farm: Ulsåkstølen (mountain pasture near Hemsedal), tel. 0047/922 31413
Maps/Literature
Comprehensive, detailed, useful: Travel Guide Norway from Michael Müller Verlag, 672 pages, 24.90 euros.
Kettler Verlag "Norway by bike", 320 p., 14.80 euros.
Good hiking and cycling maps are available from the tourist offices in Hemsedal (http://www.hemsedal.com), Gol and Geilo (http://www.geilo.no). For the most important cycle routes there are "Sykkelguides" 1:100,000, e.g. for the Rallarvegen.
Information
Innovation Norway, Norwegian Tourist Board, P.O. Box 113317, 20433 Hamburg, Tel. 0180/5001548, http://www.visitnorway.no, http://www.eventyrveien.no, http://www.bike-norway.com
